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Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lashed out at Pakistan during a live TV show, stating that India will not send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year due to safety concerns for the players. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already begun preparations.
Key Points:
· Harbhajan Singh asserted that India will not send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year due to safety concerns for the players.
· PCB has started preparations for the tournament, while ICC is also looking for a suitable window for the event.
· BCCI has not officially commented on the matter but is reportedly not in favor of sending the team to Pakistan.
· India may request the matches to be held in Dubai or Sri Lanka under a hybrid model, similar to the Asia Cup last year.
· India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season and only face each other in ICC tournaments.
Detailed Overview:
During a live TV show, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh vehemently expressed his opinion about India's participation in the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year. Harbhajan emphasized that India will not send its team to Pakistan due to safety concerns for the players. The Champions Trophy is set to be hosted by Pakistan, and the PCB has already begun preparations for the event. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has not made any official statement regarding the participation, but sources suggest that the team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
Harbhajan's Statement:
Harbhajan stated, "If our players do not feel safe in Pakistan, we will not send our team. If you want to play, play; otherwise, don't. Indian cricket can survive without Pakistan." His comments came amidst ongoing discussions about the safety and security of Indian players in Pakistan.
Harbhajan Singh said, "If our players are not safe in Pakistan, we won't send the team. If you want to play, play; if not, don't. Indian cricket can still survive without Pakistan. If you guys can survive without Indian cricket, then do it." pic.twitter.com/tJaywUqUQV
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) July 13, 2024
PCB's Preparations:
The PCB has allocated approximately 17 billion rupees for the renovation of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi in preparation for the Champions Trophy. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi informed the board members that the tournament would be entirely hosted in Pakistan. Further discussions are expected to take place during the ICC's annual board meeting in Colombo later this month.
Possible Hybrid Model:
According to an ANI report, the likelihood of the Indian team traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year is very low. BCCI sources indicate that the board might request the ICC to hold the matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka, following a hybrid model. This model was previously used for the Asia Cup, where India's matches were played in Sri Lanka.
India-Pakistan Bilateral Series:
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season. The Indian team has not toured Pakistan since 2008. Last year, former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur stated that India would not resume bilateral cricket series with Pakistan until the country stops cross-border terrorism.
ICC Tournaments:
India and Pakistan only face each other in ICC tournaments. Last month, India defeated Pakistan in the group stage of the T20 World Cup held in New York. Similarly, in the 2023 ODI World Cup hosted by India, India won the group stage match against Pakistan. Pakistan won the Champions Trophy final against India in 2017 and will be defending their title in the upcoming tournament.
